Since the Gabriel Project opened the Gabriel House last October, the number of mothers-in-need served by the ministry has skyrocketed. The new headquarters allowed the pro-life apostolate to serve more than 350 pregnant women in its first five months of operation—up from an annual average of 80 women in the past.

“This was an exciting year for the Gabriel Project,” said Mimi Eckstein, director of the Respect Life Office. “The house is enhancing the effectiveness of the program by establishing an official ‘home’ for the work of the project.”

From the time it was formally established in the Denver Archdiocese in 2001 until the house opened in late October, the ministry operated out the Respect Life Office at the John Paul II Center in south Denver and volunteers were coordinated at a parish level.

With no central location, baby items often overwhelmed the storage space at the Respect Life Office. It was also challenging for volunteers to find secure locations to meet with mothers.

“The house provides a warm, safe place to meet,” Eckstein said. “It serves as a dedicated gathering place for education, training and support for the women being served and its volunteers.”

The house, at 1341 Oneida St. adjacent to St. James Parish, is staffed on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturday mornings to provide spiritual, emotional and material support. With the addition of the house, they are not only serving more individuals but also an expanded population.

“We’re seeing families who have older children as well,” Eckstein said. “So our needs have expanded—we need donations of larger-sized clothes and diapers in addition to newborn items.”

The house is in the Montclair neighborhood, which is home to an increasing Hispanic population. As a result they are serving more Spanish-speaking families. Currently they have five bilingual volunteers, and parenting classes offered in both English and Spanish.

“The bilingual volunteers have been a huge help to us,” she said. “But we need more.”

The Gabriel Project has about 160 volunteers in more than 30 parishes in the archdiocese. While training and education are based on Catholic teachings, support is provided to women of all faiths. The ministry is dependent on volunteers and donations.

“The ministry has a proven record of helping to prevent abortions,” Eckstein said. “And it enables concerned Catholics to support mothers in crisis pregnancies in the very proactive way.”

For more information on the Gabriel Project, see the accompanying sidebar of Upcoming Events or contact the Respect Life Office at 303-715-3205 or e-mail respectlife.office@archden.org.

Related story: Read the July 29, 2009 coverage of the Gabriel House's opening festivities.

UPCOMING EVENTS

For more information or to register for any event, contact the Respect Life Office
Phone: 303-715-3205
E-mail: respectlife.office@archden.org
Web: www.archden.org (Offices, Respect Life)

Annual Pro-Life Mother’s Day Collection
Financially support the Respect Life Office
When: May 8-9, weekend Masses
Where: Parishes of Denver Archdiocese

Year for Priests Pro-Life Prayer Vigil
Pray for an end to abortion
When: 8:15 a.m. June 5, Mass followed by vigil
Where: Mass at St. James Church, 1311 Oneida St., Denver; vigil at Planned Parenthood Clinic, 7155 E. 38th Ave., Denver

Day of Prayer and Recollection (talks, Mass, Scriptural rosary, confession)
Learn about the pro-life apostolate; listen to talks, attend Mass, pray the Scriptural rosary and attend confession
Speaker: Father Felix Medina-Algaba
When: 9 a.m.-2 p.m. June 26
Where: Mother Cabrini Shrine, 20189 Cabrini Blvd., Golden
Cost: $5 includes lunch

Summer Luau:
A Gabriel House fundraiser (food, games, raffle, auction, music)
When: 4 p.m. Aug. 7
Where: St. James Parish parking lot, 1311 Oneida St., Denver
Cost: Adults $20, youth 7-18 $10, under 7 free

Gabriel Project Training
Volunteer with Gabriel Project
When: Sept. 18 and 25